PHOENIX - How important are first impressions in spring training for players vying for jobs?

That question was asked Friday of Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell regarding left-handers Wade Miley and Brent Suter, who are off to strong starts in exhibition play. The Brewers have two openings to fill in their starting rotation, and at this early stage of camp, Miley and Suter have stuck feet in the door.

“That’s the job of evaluators, to balance everything out, to understand the first impression is going to influence you,” Counsell said. “You have to take it in the right perspective, and allow the rest of the time and the rest of the performances to be the same.

“It’s a human nature thing to be challenged by our first impressions, to not make them too important. To still allow your mind to be changed and be open.”

Having said that, Counsell admitted that Miley and Suter certainly have not hurt themselves with their early showings. In two exhibition outings, Miley has tossed 4 1/3 scoreless innings with no walks and seven strikeouts. Suter has pitched four hitless innings over two appearances with one walk and four strikeouts.

The decision makers opted before camp to give Suter every opportunity to make the starting rotation after a productive 2017 season in which he filled in admirably as a spot starter. In 14 starts, he went 3-2 with a 3.45 earned run average.

Miley, however, was a complete wild card after being signed at the outset of camp to a minor-league deal. The 31-year-old veteran struggled mightily last season with Baltimore, going 8-15 with a 5.61 ERA while issuing a league-high 93 walks.

Miley went home, made adjustments to his delivery and then threw more bullpen sessions than usual over the winter. He went as far as throwing a simulated game at Southeastern Louisiana, where he pitched in college.

“A guy sets out on a plan that he thinks is going to help him, and the results have been there,” Counsell said. “It may be different than he has done before, but he has the results he wanted so far.

“He’s a guy who has had success in the league, struggled last year and was honest with himself and identified a change he thought he had to make. That’s encouraging steps that he has taken thus far.”

Twice Miley has faced Arizona, the club with which he began his career. His fastball reached 94 mph Thursday, and he didn’t look like a pitcher who had trouble finding the strike zone last season, recording five strikeouts in 2 1/3 innings.

“I just wanted to come in and prove I could throw strikes again,” Miley said. “I want to make as tough a decision on them as possible. That’s really all I can do in my shoes.

“I’m back out front (with his delivery) again and working toward the plate. I’m trying to get ahead in counts. I started throwing three weeks after the season last year, so I’ve thrown a lot. I’m blessed to have this opportunity. I’ve been pretty bad for a couple of years. I’m happy that Milwaukee is giving me this chance to extend my career.”

Suter also did something over the winter to boost his chances, going on a weight-lifting regimen that added 20 pounds of muscle and helped the finesse pitcher reach 88 mph with his fastball Thursday against the Diamondbacks.

“I did it more for strength and fatigue purposes, but if it leads to tighter movement and improved velocity, that’s a good thing,” Suter said. “I’m not trying to limit myself. I go out and throw as hard as I can but if I lose that movement, I’m in trouble. The velocity will be whatever it is.

“There’s a bunch of good players here in camp. We’re just trying to put our best foot forward.”

The next step: The 2017 season was a mixed bag for Jacob Barnes, who made his first opening-day roster and ultimately played a large role in a Brewers bullpen that was one of the team’s strengths.

His final numbers were OK – a 3-4 record, 4.00 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 72 innings while pitching in several different roles. But it was the roller-coaster nature of his year – a dominant start, rocky middle portion and strong finish – that created some frustration with the 27-year-old right-hander.

With former setup man Anthony Swarzak having signed with the New York Mets in the off-season, the Brewers have an opening directly in front of closer Corey Knebel. Barnes has the high 90s fastball and nasty slider that would make him a good fit in that spot, and with the experience Barnes gained in 2017 Counsell believes he’s ready to take that next step.

“He came into last year with (26 2/3) big-league innings, and in my mind he was exposed to everything,” he said. “I thought he got probably three years of experience almost in what he was exposed to. So, it doesn’t feel like this is a player with one full season in the big leagues.

“What I was happiest about last season was everything he experienced will allow him to take another step this year. And he got feedback from all that. He’s been in every situation now. There’s no surprises – the frustration, the emotion on the mound.

“That’s a very good thing, and he’ll be able to use that to his advantage this year.”

Counsell said Barnes checked off the “workhorse” box on his list of accomplishments, as his 73 appearances – tied for sixth in the National League – proved he can take the ball regularly and still remain effective.

Moving forward, the challenge for Barnes will be learning to finish off hitters more consistently once he gets ahead in the count.

“Jacob pitches with a lot of effort, and that works to his advantage – it’s big stuff and big velocity,” Counsell said. “Minimizing the misses was probably one of the biggest things we’ve noted. You’re going to throw balls, but they have to be competitive balls.

“At times he would get two strikes and then he would let guys back into the count with easy takes for the hitter, I guess you would say. In three challenging takes for the hitter, he’s going to swing at one.”

Barnes made his spring debut Friday against the Seattle Mariners and surrendered two hits and a run with a strikeout in an inning of work. He also picked off a runner.

Thames better: First baseman Eric Thames, who was scratched from the lineup Thursday with back tightness, was feeling better Friday and Counsell expects to play him Saturday. Thames, who is built like a professional wrestler, has had to work at keeping limber for games and that remains a challenge.

“Everybody has their challenges and his, as a very strong man, is just being loose,” Counsell said. “It’s something he has to be careful of. As the season goes, it gets easier for him. That’s what spring training is for, also, to ramp up activity as we go.

“He has a different style of workout; that’s clear. But it has worked for him, so we understand that.”